Lawyer charged with sexual assault fails to get 20-year suppression on name We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Lawyer charged with sexual assault fails to get 20-year suppression on name Normal text size Advertisement A criminal defence lawyer accused of sexually assaulting a female lawyer in western Sydney can now be identified, after media organisations successfully fought an attempt to keep his name secret. Steven Mercael, 27, allegedly grabbed the woman by the throat, repeatedly slapped her across the face and kicked her legs, causing her to fall to her knees, during the alleged assault in the early hours of December 20 last year.